The last Sunday in April is about as late as you can get for Easter. But not to worry shoppers, we have a jump on what's on sale and the bargains are as ripe as strawberries this time of year. In fact, strawberries are a pretty good bargain: Buy 1, get 2 free at both Safeway and Save Mart.
Here's what we like for your Easter table:
First hop, Save Mart where you can pair those berries with a John Morrell Bavarian boneless ham for $1.99lb or a Sunvalley smoked shank portion ham for 97-cents a pound. For the bunnies, Sunnyside Farms large eggs are BOGO. Shop the store's 3-day sale and you'll get a free container of whipped topping when you buy a baked apple or cherry pie in the bakery for $4.99. Iceberg lettuce is 37-cents; salmon filets are $5.99lb and a 128oz. jug of Minute Maid OJ is $3.99.
If you want to serve seafood salad, fresh shrimp is $3.99lb. Radishes, green onion or cilantro are 50-cents a bunch; tomatoes on the vine are $1.97lb and avocado is $1.50. A fresh pineapple is $2.97.
A case of Crystal Geyser spring water is $3.33; Martinelli's sparkling cider is $2 a bottle.
In the bakery, you can get a free baguette with the purchase of spinach dip and free a bag of Jelly Belly jelly beans when you purchase a dozen decorated cupcakes.
Soda is a deal with 2-liter jugs of 7-UP for 99-cents; 12-packs of Coke are buy 2, get 2 free.
If you're clippin', Italian sausage is $1.99; carrot cake is $2 off; and Silk soymilk is $1.99.
Safeway has the same berry deal - buy 1, get 2 free. Their spiral sliced ham is $1.99lb and the whole or shank half ham is 99-cents a pound. Green beans and bagged salads are BOGO and Boston cream cakes are $7.99 in the bakery. Daily deals include $1.59 for a 4lb bag of sugar on Wednesday; 99-cent pineapple on Thursday; Waterfront bistro shriimp for $4.99 on Saturday and apple pie for $2.99 on Easter.
Buyuy 2-12 packs of soda and get 3 free; Aquafina or Nestle water is $3.50 a case. Martinelli's is a bit pricey at $2.50 a bottle. You might want to try the Safeway brand. It's got to be less.
Corn on the cob is back - 3 ears for 99-cents. Green onions and radishes are $1 a bunch.
Dreyer's ice cream; Cool Whip; Lay's chips and Oscar Mayer sliced bacon are all BOGO.
Knudsen sour cream is $1.88; Kraft cream cheese is $1.50 and Sabra hummus is $3.50 in the deli.
The $5 Friday only specials include roasted turkey breast or pot roast; a 20-pack of Coke; Captain Jac Fish & chips; selected varieties of nuts and whipped cream cakes in the bakery. (Bet those cakes will stay fresh until Easter!)
Hopping over to Raley's, there's still time to order Easter dinner for $59.99 - ham or lobster ravioli. Order online at www.raleys.com and you'll save yourself $5. If you're cooking, Raley's spiral sliced ham is $1.77lb; fresh asparagus is $1.97lb a 5lb bag of Sierra Gold potatoes is $2.50. Fresh fresh fruit tarts in the bakery are $14.99. If you'd rather have pie, Apple pie is BOGO in the bakery and Cool Whip topping is 99-cents.
Del Monte pineapple is $1.97; yams are 77-cents a pound and corn is 2/$1.
Dinner rolls are a dozen for $2.50; French bread is $1.88 a loaf. Raley's large eggs are $1.98 a dozen. Knudsen sour cream is $1.50; Philly cream cheese is 4/$5; frozen veggies are 2/$3.
A case of Crystal Geyser is $3.29; Martinelli's sparkling cider or Ocean Spray cranberry juice cocktail is $1.99 and Simply Orange juices are $2.99.
You can even do your Easter dinner shopping at Target where the prices are about the same as the grocery stores. Archer Farms spiral sliced honey ham is $1.99lb; a 5lb bag of russet potatoes is $1.99; Dole bagged salads are $1.99; Green Giant frozen green beans are 2/$3; and a bag of baby carrots is $1.49. Get a free liter of Coke with a grocery purchase of $25 or more.
That should do it for Easter dinner shopping. Come back on Thursday and we will share our favorite holiday recipes.


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